Newborn red panda cubs bring hope to Sikkim’s conservation efforts

Joy ripples through the Himalayan Zoological Park in Gangtok as two red panda cubs were recently born to resident pair Lucky and Mirak, marking a hopeful milestone for Sikkim’s wildlife conservation efforts.

The cubs, nestled in a quiet corner of their enclosure, are already attracting visitors with their soft red fur and inquisitive eyes. Their mother, Lucky, aged five, is seen attentively nursing them, while father Mirak, three, watches protectively from a nearby perch — the picture of a proud red panda family.

The birth is particularly significant for Sikkim, where the red panda is not only an endangered species but also the official state animal. The cubs are the second litter to be born at the park since a seven-year breeding drought disrupted the conservation program.

Dr. Menla Zangmu Lachungpa, a conservation biologist and veterinarian at the zoo, expressed both relief and excitement. “The birth of these cubs gives us hope that we are finally back on track. This is a step forward not just for the zoo, but for red panda conservation across the region,” she said.

The Himalayan Zoological Park serves as a satellite breeding centre under the national red panda breeding program led by Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park in Darjeeling. Since the program began in 1997, the Gangtok-based park has cared for 48 red pandas, 32 of which were born in captivity.

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The road, however, hasn’t been smooth. Years of failed breeding attempts and a canine distemper outbreak had set back the park’s efforts. But now, with the birth of these cubs, conservationists are re-energised.

Dr. Lachungpa emphasised the broader ecological importance of red pandas. “They are an umbrella species. Protecting their habitat safeguards many other species that share the same ecosystem,” she noted.

Long-term plans include the possibility of rewilding — reintroducing red pandas into safe, natural habitats. “We have good forest cover in Sikkim. With enough healthy individuals, rewilding is definitely a goal,” Dr. Lachungpa added.

The red panda is listed as "Endangered" on the IUCN Red List and enjoys the highest level of protection under Schedule I of India’s Wildlife Protection Act — the same as tigers. “That reflects the animal’s importance not just biologically, but culturally and emotionally for our state,” said Dr. Lachungpa.

Despite the challenges of tracking red pandas in the wild due to their solitary and elusive nature, conservationists remain hopeful. The arrival of these cubs signals a renewed chapter for the species in Sikkim.

As tourists line up for a glimpse of the young family, the staff at the Himalayan Zoological Park remain focused on their mission — to ensure that red pandas are not just zoo attractions, but a thriving part of Sikkim’s wild landscape once again.